Mama’s life is about to become a jungle of kids

So I am proud to announce that I have taken on the role of assistant director for Echuca-Moama Theatre Company’s junior production, The Jungle Book Kids.

I will be working alongside seasoned director Lesley Summers as well as singing sensation Tamara Cadd who will be our production manager.

While we all share a love of musical theatre, we all have our different quirks so hopefully we don’t end up killing each other by the end of this.

I openly admit I can be quite loud, outspoken and impatient, but I am planning on keeping my mouth a little more closed than usual as this experience is a new one and a huge learning curve for me.

I have never directed a show of any kind before, unless of course you consider the little plays I did at home with my sister where I basically told her where to stand and what to do while I took centre stage.

And she was scared enough of me to actually do what I told her.

I’m not sure I’ll have the same effect on these youngsters, and I’m not sure I want to. Well, not at first anyway.

I’ll have to lull them into a false sense of security first and then, bam, they won’t know what hit them.

This show is for kids aged eight to 12, so it’s going to be challenging enough keeping their attention for longer than five minutes at a time, so there’s going to have to be a bit of tough love.

I may even have to bring out my Madame Giry cane from my old Phantom days.

I already have two girls at home who don’t listen to me, so why would I want another 25 you ask? I’m a glutton for punishment I guess.

But seriously, I really am looking forward to working with a great bunch of talented children, who will probably put my singing, dancing and flexibility to shame.

Instilling that passion and love for the arts is so important to keep theatre companies like ours sustainable.

Children are our future and will eventually be the ones leading the way.

Which gives me a great segue (and free plug) to encourage young ones from around the district to come to our information session tonight.

We will not only be talking about how you can be involved in The Jungle Book Kids but our show for the older kids — Back to the 80s.

And who doesn’t want to go back to that time? It was the best of times. And a decade I was lucky enough to live through and fortunately have no social media memories of.

’Cause I had it all — double denim, fringe, perm, scrunchies, glitter hairspray, MC Hammer pants, jelly shoes and more glitter hairspray.

Now teens aged between 12 and 18 can experience not only the classic fashions of this era, but the music.

And everyone knows 80s music is the best.

As well as the show-stopping tunes of The Jungle Book, of course. So I look forward to seeing you at The Shed in Simmie St, Echuca, tonight at 7pm.

Be there or be square.